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At random: Coronation ceremonies of Emperor Alexander II of Russia in 1855 were enlivened by a submarine concert. Wilhelm Bauer, a Bavarian inventor, took three musicians under the waters of Kronstadt Harbor in a submarine he had built, where they played appropriate music during the coronation. The music was distinctly heard on the surface.

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Coyote

Posted 2026-07-23 3:20 PM (#106172)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1502

Location: NE Florida

Subject: Thorsday Obits

https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/
https://ussvi.org/membership/eternal-patrol (USSVI members only)

The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted.

I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate.

ELLIS .. .. .. It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Winford Gerald “Jerry” Ellis on 23 June 2026 at age 84. RADM Ellis entered the U.S. Naval Academy in July 1960 and served as a Submarine Officer until his retirement in June 2000 as Director, Special Programs Division (N89)/Director, Deep Submergence Branch (N873) in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. His commands included USS ULYSSES S. GRANT (SSBN-631), USS CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI (SSN-705), Submarine Squadron SIX (SUBRON 6), Submarine Group TEN (SUBGRU 10), and Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC). He also served as Oceanographer of the Navy (N096). He earned a Vietnam Service Medal with three campaign stars for submarine operations in the Vietnam War. After retiring from active duty, he subsequently served in the Senior Executive Service and as the Undersea Warfare Chair at Naval Postgraduate School for a cumulative 62 years of service to the U.S. Navy.
After attending Georgia Tech for a year, Jerry Ellis entered the U.S. Naval Academy on 5 July 1960 with the Class of 1964. According to the Lucky Bag (yearbook), he “lost no time getting to the top of everything he did. He not only continually made the Superintendent’s list and wore stars, but he was business manager of the ‘64 Lucky Bag and varsity crew manager” while participating in the “math and science seminar and Russian club.” His goal was to “go nuclear power” on graduation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Science with a specialization in nuclear physics (the Academy didn’t have academic majors yet.) He was commissioned an ensign on 3 June 1964.
In August 1964, Ensign Ellis was assigned to USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) at San Diego, conducting post-overhaul training. Selected for the Navy Nuclear Power Program, he reported to Naval Nuclear Power School, Mare Island, Vallejo, California in November 1964. In May 1965, he reported to Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, West Milton Site, Schenectady, New York. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) in December 1965 and the same month reported to Naval Submarine School, Groton, Connecticut.
In June 1966, Lieutenant (junior grade) Ellis was assigned to modified Balao-class diesel-electric submarine USS CATFISH (SS-339) at San Diego as Weapons Officer. On October 1966, CATFISH torpedoed and sank the seaplane tender ex-USS SUISAN (AVP-53) as a live-fire exercise target. From January to October 1967, CATFISH deployed to the Vietnam War Zone conducting lifeguard duty and sensitive close-in reconnaissance of the North Vietnamese coast.
In October 1967, LTJG Ellis reported to Skipjack-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS SNOOK (SSN-592) undergoing major overhaul and refueling at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard before returning to homeport San Diego in June 1968. He was promoted to lieutenant in December 1967. He served in various Engineering Department billets and then Operations Officer as SNOOK conducted local area training and ASW exercises in preparation for a Western Pacific deployment.
Before SNOOK deployed, Lieutenant Ellis was assigned as staff/instructor at Naval Nuclear Power School, Mare Island, serving as Director, Enlisted Training Department. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in February 1970.
Selected for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Scholars Program, Lieutenant Commander Ellis reported to the NROTC and Naval Administrative Unit, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. He was awarded a Master of Science in Management from MIT in 1974.
In May 1974, LCDR Ellis assumed duty as Executive Officer of Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS BILLFISH (SSN-676) at Groton, Connecticut, assigned to Submarine Development Group TWO, conducting two intelligence collection operations in the Barents Sea, including witnessing a launch of a newly-developed Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missile (SS-N-8) before shifting to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine in January 1975 for her first major overhaul. Reassigned to Submarine Squadron TEN, BILLFISH subsequently deployed to the Mediterranean in early 1976.
In November 1976, LCDR Ellis assumed duty as Executive Officer (Blue Crew) of fleet ballistic missile submarine USS ANDREW JACKSON (SS-619) conducting deterrent patrols out of Holy Loch, Scotland having been recently converted from Polaris to Poseidon submarine-launched ballistic missile. He was promoted to commander in November 1977. In June 1978, he reported to Division of Naval Reactors, Department of Energy for prospective commanding officer (PCO) training. This was followed in October 1978 by additional PCO training at Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT).
In January 1979, Commander Ellis assumed command of fleet ballistic missile submarine USS ULYSSES S. GRANT (SSBN-631) during a major overhaul and modernization period at Newport News Shipbuilding until the sub returned to duty status in February 1979 and resumed deterrent patrols from Holy Loch, Scotland.
In June 1981, CDR Ellis assumed command of Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI (SSN-705) then under construction at Electric Boat Division, Groton, Connecticut before being officially commissioned on 8 January 1983. This was followed by a shake-down cruise to the Caribbean.
In April 1983, CDR Ellis reported as a student to the Naval War College Post-Command Course in Newport, Rhode Island. In June 1983, he reported to Navy Military Personnel Command as Head, SUB/Nuclear Power Enlisted Branch (NMPC-403). He was promoted to Captain in April 1984.
In May 1985, Captain Ellis was assigned to Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) as Senior Member, Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. In July 1987, he assumed command of Submarine Squadron SIX (SUBRON 6) at Norfolk, responsible for six Los-Angeles and Sturgeon-class fast attack submarines. In February 1989, he assumed duty as Chief of Staff for Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, in Norfolk.
In June 1991, Captain Ellis was assigned as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Application, Defense Programs, U.S. Department of Energy. He was designated a rear admiral (lower half) in July 1991 for duty in a billet commensurate with that rank and promoted to rear admiral (lower half) on 1 February 1992.
In October 1993, RDML Ellis assumed command of Submarine Group TEN (SUBGRU 10) at Kings Bay, Georgia, responsible for two subordinate submarine squadrons with a combined 7-8 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. In September 1994, he was designated a rear admiral (two star) for duty in a billet commensurate with that rank. He was promoted to rear admiral on 1 July 1995.
In January 1996, RADM Ellis assumed duty as Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, responsible for all aspects of submarine training and operations in the Pacific. In June 1998, he returned to the Office of the CNO as Oceanographer of the Navy (N096) through July 1999. In June 1998, he assumed additional duty as Director Special Programs Division (N89) and in July 1999 assumed additional duty as Director Deep Submergence Branch (N873). He remained in both the N89 and N873 positions through May 2000. He retired on 1 June 2000.
RADM Ellis’ awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (five awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal (two awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (three campaign stars), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (four awards), and Expert Rifleman Medal.
Following retirement, RADM Ellis transitioned to the Senior Executive Service (SES), serving as Director of the Deep Submergence Program, Director of the Defense Liaison Division, and Special Assistant for Undersea Strategy in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. He twice earned the Meritorious Senior Executive Presidential Rank Award (2004 and 2009.) In 2007 he was awarded a National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal (the highest Intelligence Community service award.) He then served as the Undersea Warfare Chair at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey from 2009 to 2021, where he was the Director of the Undersea Warfare Center, for which he was awarded a Distinguished Civilian Service Award. He served on the Advisory Council of the Naval Submarine League and served for a time as the National Director of the Navy League of the United States. He was a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Tech Research Co and the Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation. He served on the External Advisory Council for the Georgia Tech Research Institute and a member of the External Advisory Board for the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington.

LE GROS .. .. .. , John Edward LE GROS, Sr. passed away at the age of 92 on February 1st, 2016 at his home in Sonoma, California. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Beth; son Tom Le Gros (his wife Karen) of Visalia, California; son Richard Le Gros (his wife Kelley) of Los Osos, California; daughter Clare Gordon, (her husband Robert) and grandson Ross Gordon of San Francisco, California; and great granddaughter Nevaeh Le Gros of West Mansfield, Ohio. He was preceded in death by son John Le Gros Jr. and grandson Ryan Le Gros. John was born in Oak Park, Illinois on March 21st, 1923. In his youth, he developed the strong work ethic, moral foundation and character which would serve him and all who knew him throughout his life. By the age of 17, he had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with The Boy Scouts of America, placed second in the Illinois State Boys’ Tennis Championship (Doubles category) and was voted both Senior Class President and “Big Man on Campus” by fellow classmates at River Forest Township High School in Oak Park. John’s scholastic performance led to his admission at Yale University in 1940. To serve his country during World War II, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy in 1943 and was placed in an officer training program while he finished his studies at Yale. The training required additional instruction at M.I.T. and Harvard University. After graduating from Yale in 1944 with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Chemical Engineering, John served aboard the submarine USS Barbero at Subic Bay in the Phillipines where he was stationed for the duration of the war. John and Beth were married in Pasadena, California on April 18th, 1947. In 1948, John began a long career at Shell Chemical Corporation, living in many parts of the U.S. and traveling around the world in the performance of his business responsibilities. In 1965, John went on to pursue other business interests before moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1980 as President of American Filtrona Corporation. In 1995 he retired, moving to San Francisco, California. Shortly thereafter, he volunteered with the International Executive Service Corps, a non-profit organization founded by David Rockefeller, assisting the economic development of former Communist countries. John and Beth lived in the Ukraine and Macedonia for extended periods of time. In 1999 John and Beth moved to Sonoma, California. They continued their travels around the world. John lived an admirable, full and worthy life. He was greatly loved and respected by his family and his many friends. He will be sorely missed.

NAPP .. .. .. James Roger Napp, age 80, of Hollywood, passed away on Monday, July 13, 2026. Funeral services were held on Sunday, July 26, 2026 from the Rudder Funeral Home in Scottsboro. Mr Napp is survived by his wife Joyce, stepsons Bill (Sharon) Wear, Charlie Wear, Pat (Ashley) Kennamer and Clay (Aimee) Kennamer, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, his sister Sharon (Ron) Adam, and brother Bob (Doran) Napp. Mr Napp was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan Lee Napp, and his parents Roy and Dorothy.
James was born in Louisiana, was a US Navy veteran enlisting on June 6, 1968, serving on submarines reaching the rank of Machinist’s Mate First Class and was Honorably Discharged from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1975. He then served as a Minister in the First United Methodist church and as a hospice Chaplain until his retirement.

RICHARDS .. .. .. Donald Herbert Richards passed away from pancreatic cancer July 18, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. He was 78 yrs old.
Don was born in Kassel, Germany, to Donald Harry Richards and Hedwig Hahn Richards. An only child, he grew up in his grandparents’ home while his family relocated throughout Germany with the military. During high school, Don and his parents moved to Colorado Springs, CO. Having grown up as an “Army brat,” he later joined the Navy and served several tours of duty in Vietnam aboard wooden-hulled Minesweeping Boats (MSBs) and later submarines.
After his military discharge, Don settled in Denver, CO, and met the love of his life, Denise Ann. They were married in 1971 and together had one child, Nathan. (Don proudly gained a daughter, Rebecca, when Nathan married in 2011.)
While in CO, he chose respiratory therapy as his desired career and earned his Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential in 1974. Then in 1975, Don began work on his baccalaureate degree through the University of New York at Stony Brook. He later received a full graduate scholarship from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) to continue his studies, and in 1979 he graduated from Stony Brook with a second, advanced degree.
Don went on to serve as a part-time faculty member at Wichita State University and as Cardio-Pulmonary Department Manager at the VA Hospital in Wichita, Kansas where he later became their Head of Diagnostic Services.
Beyond his professional roles, Don was deeply involved in health care, public service, and professional leadership. His contributions included service with:
• The American Lung Association of Kansas, including a term as president
• The Health Professions Network, a national organization dedicated to raising awareness of the need for more health care professionals
• The Kansas Respiratory Care Society (KRCS), where he served for many years on the Board of Directors
Don also helped establish licensure for respiratory therapy in Kansas, drafted the first continuing education requirements, served as the first Continuing Education Coordinator, and represented the KRCS on the Respiratory Care Council to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. Nationally, he represented Kansas through the American Association for Respiratory Care as both a member of the House of Delegates and a member of the National Board of Directors.
In 1992, Don and his family moved to Topeka, Kansas. He became the Kansas Board of Regents’ Health Careers Specialist.
In that role, Don continued to provide expertise and leadership in various health care organizations, as well as assist in developing a national health careers exploration curriculum for high school students interested in health care careers. He was also instrumental in securing a multi-year grant from the State of Kansas to help local nursing schools obtain additional funding, expand class sizes, and graduate more nurses.
Don retired in 2012, giving him and Denise more time to travel and to enjoy his lifelong hobby of model railroading. He remained active with the Lawrence Model Railroad Club and the European Train Enthusiasts in Kansas City. He also loved German sports cars—especially Porsches—and, of course, German beer. He once caused a stir among German friends by admitting that he liked Belgian beer as much as German beer. Don often quoted Spock’s famous phrase, “Live long and prosper,” and added his own good-humored wish: “and be sure to enjoy a good craft beer with friends. Prost!”

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